Ladies and Gentlemen, fellow Ghanaians, our country has entered the 50th year of its birth as an independent nation.

It was in 1957 that the Convention People’s Party (CPP) blazed the trail of African emancipation and lit a torch of hope for black people everywhere. The CPP’s fight for independence was significant for Ghana, Africa and the black race because of the comprehensive development Agenda it had for Ghana , liberation and progress of Africa, respect and dignity for all black people. 50 is a mature and significant age in human existence and an age for “grown-up” reflection.

The year 2007 thus offers our nation a chance for that sober reflection on where we have come from and where we are going.

The CPP founding fathers of this nation had a great dream for the then new Ghana and tabled appropriate programmes and strategies to help the new nation realize that dream.

They envisaged:-

• A society in which the individual Ghanaian will be able to enjoy a modern standard of living in his home , supplemented by an advanced level of public services.

• A Society were government regards the well being of every Ghanaian however humble as the supreme law.

• The wellbeing of every Ghanaian citizen measured by the degree to which each can realise the potential of his/her personality.

• Institutions of society to assure each citizen of freedom and justice.

• A productive and efficient economy developed to the highest degree with all the energies of the nation and government mobilized to promote and satisfy these noble ideals.

• A liberated, independent and united Africa to guarantee Africa’s economic and social gains which flow from liberation and independence.

The dream has been realized by nations that started the journey with us 50 years ago, and others have followed a similar path to that envisaged for our beloved country What then has gone wrong with the Ghanaian dream? Much analysis has been done, books written, comparisons made with other countries and Ghanaians understand that military interventions have not helped us , but the other truth is that no government has been able to offer the vision and leadership of the CPP government.

Ghana at fifty has come a long way and much has been achieved but we are far behind the targets set by the founding fathers and the school report for Ghana at 50 is “Can Do Better” and “Must Do Better”

Successive governments since the CPP do not seem to be learning any lessons. The NPP like its predecessor-the NDC- has since assumption of office promoted a style of economic development policies which has often been insensitive to the basic needs of ordinary Ghanaians and to the environment. Indeed, since 2001, the NPP’s economic focus is on wealth production than wealth distribution, production for export than for the needs of local population, extraction of natural resources rather than environmental protection, and trade liberalisation which is ‘killing’ local industries.

At 50 years old they are failing to deliver even on the basics for our population. The government continues to fail the country on the basics of electricity and water at this very moment – the country is plunged into darkness every 5 days with power cuts, and water taps run dry for days on end without explanation, whilst tankers continue to deliver water to Ministers. The NPP government must lead the country in the exercise of reflection, beginning with a thorough consideration on Government policies – are the policies and actions of the Executive meeting the needs of the populace?, and when realistically will the noble ideals envisaged at the beginning of our birth as a nation be realized in our beloved country Ghana?

The situation where this government and others before it has typically pursued policies which serve the rich elite at the expense of the poor, which neglect the economically disconnected and those living in remote areas, and which reflect short-term expediency rather than long-term survival, must be halted, and the country reconnected to its founding principles.

As the party that took Ghana to independence we believe that our programme to transform this country remains as relevant today as ever :

• Agriculture modernised

• Employment linked to both Agriculture and Industry

• More employment in the field of manufacturing.

• Structure of Ghana’s exports changed from reliance on primary products and raw materials to a greater concentration on processed, finished and industrial export.

• The structure of production progressively transformed by the development of technology.

• Maximization of the rate of adoption of modern technology and the rate of productive investment.

• Greater African political and economic Unity.

The CPP will be marking the year with a comprehensive programme of events with an International dimension, and the programme would be officially launched soon by the Party.

We hope the nation including children at primary school level would be able to join in the national process of celebration, remembrance, reflection and education about the path to independence and the sacrifices made by many to gain Ghana freedom from colonial bondage.

We take the opportunity finally to wish our fellow countrymen and women greater happiness and prosperity in this anniversary year. We join Moslem, Christian and traditionalists who are all praying for peace and the future success of our great nation.

Long Live Ghana

Forward Ever! Backward Never for Ghana

RNA Akomfrah Chairman for Convention People’s Party (CPP UK & Ireland) cppuk@hotmail.com